Lucky Hank

I'm writing this only after the pilot episode. As it is the only one out this far, I really love Bob Odenkirk as I could watch him Rita phonebook. The character introduction episodes for most shows are always a snore fest and this was entertaining enough I was hoping for a little more drama or excitement or a cliffhanger perhaps but I'm hoping that type of emotion will come in the future episodes. I was really happy to see Diedrich Bayer come into screen, as I always wished he was in more things. He is a joy to watch. Finding out Susan Cryer would be a cast member on the show was quite a nice surprise as I really enjoyed her role in Silicon Valley. I will say that her personality and tone in the show is similar to her character in Silicon Valley. Shannon Devito stole the scenes that she was a part of and I feel like this will be her breakout role and I can't wait to see more. I really hope the show succeeds because it has all the potential for a stellar time.

Viewers of Lucky Hank shouldn't expect this to be in the same entertainment class as Breaking Bad, or even Better Call Saul. Although the last several episodes of BCS fell flat, IMHO. Bob Odenkirk, a comedian by trade, is a good actor. He did a good job as Hank. As the old Hollywood saying goes, "Dying is easy. Comedy is difficult."

The first episode was okay, nothing great, however. The humor was pointed and straightforward. I hope they ramp up the laughs a bit more in future episodes. Don't have to go juvenile, like Welcome Back Kotter, but fresh, sharp and witty dialogue is a good foundation to build on. We shall see.

To be honest, I'm surprised this show was even made.

In a couple of months when the full season is out I may come across as a fool and this may be an outstanding piece of comedy television, but based off the first 2 episodes, I am not optimistic. I am confused as to what the hook is to this show, it appears to simply be exaggerated and yet uninteresting events occurring around a beleaguered Odenkirk and his shockingly unmemorable cast of side "characters". Odenkirk does chew through the large majority of lines with a believable animosity towards the world and tempered rage as a man suffering a mid life crisis, but even his good, if not outstanding, performance is not enough to save an essentially premise-less series.

I have not read the source material. I don't know if it has the depth to sustain a series or if this series (so far) is just a weak adaptation. Either way, it needs to improve rapidly and find some grounding in some form of a plot, as so far I have been felt unsatisfied by the episodes that have been released.

Lucky Hank is a new comedy drama series on AMC that follows the life of Hank Devereaux, Jr., the unlikely English department chairman at the badly underfunded Railton College in the Pennsylvania rust belt. Hank is a middle-aged man who is struggling with a midlife crisis. He is unhappy with his job, his marriage, and his life in general. However, Hank is also a very funny and charming man, and he has a way of making the people around him laugh.

The show is based on the novel Straight Man by Richard Russo, and it is adapted by Paul Lieberstein and Aaron Zelman. Lieberstein is the creator of The Office, and Zelman is the co-creator of The Killing. The two men have created a show that is both funny and heartwarming.

The show stars Bob Odenkirk as Hank. Odenkirk is an excellent actor, and he brings Hank to life in a way that is both funny and relatable. The rest of the cast is also excellent, and they all have great chemistry with each other.

The show's writing is sharp and witty, and the show is full of laugh-out-loud moments. The show also has a lot of heart, and it deals with some serious issues in a way that is both funny and thought-provoking.

Overall, Lucky Hank is a great new comedy drama series. It is funny, charming, and well-written. If you are looking for a new show to watch, I highly recommend Lucky Hank.

This could become another iconic character for Odenkirk. Give it a try. I found the the first episode far too close to the reality of university life. The intensity of the battles for which the stakes are so low (to paraphrase an old Pat Moynihan quote). The self-absorbed faculty whose fragile egos are satisfied only when belittling their colleagues' efforts. Administrators powerless - or afraid - to make real change.

You must read the A CINE TV REVIEW listed under "Critic's Reviews." It's hilarious; clearly the writer never saw the pilot and doesn't know that it's a series - not a film. Click bait publishing.